Gators Need a Good Scrimmage. Any Volunteers?

Those of you who know me know that I am a Gator fan. If you didn't know that, well, you do now. This is a big week for Gators around the globe. It's the week of the first conference game. It's the week that Florida travels to Knoxville. With that in mind, this seems like the perfect time to share with you the best sentiment I have ever seen expressed on ESPN's College Gameday.



The Other Trojans

This week, the former Sweatervest Juggernaut has to play the Trojans again. Fortunately for the Buckeyes, it's the Trojans from the University of Troy and not the Trojans who made Ohio State look like a Pop Warner team last Saturday.

Apparently, I wasn't the only one who noticed that Ohio State seemed to move the ball more effectively with Terrelle Pryor as the quarterback. An article on CBS Sportsline notes: "Against USC, he (Pryor) was at quarterback for 25 plays, Boeckman for 39. The Buckeyes averaged 5.1 yards on Pryor's plays, 2.8 on Boeckman's." The question is, why didn't Jim Tressel notice? I mean, isn't that what a coach is supposed to do?

Jahvid Best, Meet Kevin Barnes

There was a bunch of good college football on TV this past Saturday. A whole bunch. If you started at 10:00 AM (EST) with Gameday, and went until the end of the Fresno State-Wisconsin game, like I did, you enjoyed almost 16 hours of college football! If you were trying to pace yourself, and didn't tune in to the early games, you missed a classic slobberknocker.



Early Pick! Kansas State @ Louisville

If this is part of a movement to schedule college football games on almost every day of the week except Sunday, I second the motion. Tonight, we get a rare and interesting Wednesday night college football game with Kansas State visiting Louisville. In the name of full disclosure, I have to admit I have no idea which team to pick. I have yet to see Kansas State play. Statistically speaking, they are superior to the Cardinals in every category. But, their first two games were against North Texas and Montana State, games in which they outscored their opponents 114-16. I did watch Kentucky beat Louisville in the season opener, and the Cardinal defense was not good. Two years ago, Lousiville was 12-1 and playing in the Orange Bowl. Then Bobby Petrino jumped ship - a move in which he apparently set a personal trend - and Steve Kragthorpe was hired to stop the bleeding in a 6-6 season last year. Kansas State, meanwhile, finished 5-7 last year, and signed a platoon of JUCO transfers hoping for an immediate fix. I think both teams are mediocre, but the Wildcats are just good enough to win this one.

Afterbirth (Week 3)

You know... the stuff that just kind of falls out when the party's over

The Myth of the Sweatervest Juggernaut Stops Here

Let’s all agree, right here, right now, to end the Myth of the Sweatervest Juggernaut. Ohio State hasn’t won a big game since the 2003 Fiesta Bowl, and, while I will be eternally grateful for that controversial upset of the stinking U, I am now perennially annoyed that I have to listen to early season blabber about the Buckeyes being a great football team.



Let’s agree to leave them out of the preseason top 10, out of any mention of Heisman or any other trophies, and off the list of national championship contenders until they show that they can behave like anything other than the sweatervest-wearing whiners they have become. It is apparent that, while your coach dresses like Mister Rogers, your team plays like Mister Rogers. Win a big game. Outside the Big 10+1. Then come talk to me.

Will anybody beat either USC or Oklahoma this year?

If I had to bet right now, I’d say NO. After last weekend, it looks like the Trojans won’t get much competition from the rest of the Pac 10. Cal got manhandled by a very average Maryland team. Arizona lost to previously winless New Mexico. Arizona State suffered an overtime loss to UNLV, and, as a consolation prize, get to host the Georgia Bulldogs this week. UCLA couldn’t manage a single point against a BYU team that scored 59 of them. Oregon State finally collected a win against Hawaii after losing their first two. Oregon, although they won a tough game at Purdue, is now down to their third string quarterback. And the Washington teams look terrible, collectively going 0-6 to start the season. Who will beat the Trojans?

Oklahoma has yet to score less than 52 points in each of their first three games. QB Sam Bradshaw is the real deal – currently second in the nation in passing efficiency. But the Sooners have a much tougher road. Saturdays will be a little harder as they begin conference play. I think the top four teams in each division of the Big 12 would be competitive in any other league besides their own and the SEC.

So Much for Crystal Balls

Okay, so I was a very dismal 4-5 this week in my predictions. But, seriously, other than my Ohio State pick – a mistake I will NEVER make again, now that we’ve all agreed that the Sweatervest Juggernaut is not – I had a lot of close calls. Kansas led South Florida 20-3 at one point before collapsing in the second half. Fresno State had opportunities to beat Wisconsin in a close game. The Battle of the Tech’s was another close one. And, while some may have predicted a Notre Dame victory, nobody could have predicted the Michigan turnover avalanche that sealed their fate early.

I swear I’ll do much better this week. Probably.

My Crystal Ball Says...

...that I know what will happen in this week's key games. Always remember that I'm right, and your team sucks.

#5 Ohio State @ #1 USC
Just for the record, I hate both of these teams. I think USC pays its players. I think Ohio State fans suck. Back in the days before the overtime format in college football, I asked an old friend of mine, a Gator fan, what outcome he hoped for when Florida State and Miami played each other. He replied, “I hope it ends in a scoreless tie with everybody (on both teams) dead.” That’s how I feel about this game. But, I get paid the big bucks (uh huh, right) to make a prediction, so here goes. My gut tells me that USC is a better team. And they are at home. But there is a little part of me that thinks Ohio State has spent a long time hearing that they are going to get steam-rolled in this game, and they’re probably a little pissed about it. I don’ t know why, but I’m going to listen to that little part of me and pick Ohio State.

#2 Georgia @ South Carolina
Steve Spurrier hates Georgia. And God bless him for that. And, despite pulling off the big upset in Athens last year, I don’t think the Cocks have the horses to beat the Dawgs this year. Surprisingly, the one thing Spurrier HASN’T gotten in his years in Columbia is good play from the QB position. He won’t get it this week either.

#10 Wisconsin @ #21 Fresno State
The Badgers bother me. Every year, they begin the season with lofty rankings. And every year, they beat the teams they should beat, and lose to Michigan or Ohio State. Last year, they didn’t play Michigan but they lost to Ohio State and Penn State. In 2006 they lost to Michigan, and didn’t play Ohio State. In 2005, they didn’t play Ohio State, and they managed to beat Michigan but lost to Penn State, Iowa and Northwestern. You see the pattern here. I think the Badgers may be good enough to beat the Bulldogs. Fresno’s win over Rutgers seems a little less impressive now that the Tarheels dismantled the Scarlet Knights in a thorough, demoralizing fashion. But since I’ll be rooting for Fresno State in this one, I’m going to pick them.

UCLA @ #18 BYU
Somehow, I’ve gotten over the hatred I had for BYU that stemmed from them winning the national championship by default in 1984. I don’t really like them. I just don’t hate them anymore. I DO, however, hate Bruin head coach Rick Neuheisel. BYU has won 12 games in a row – the nation’s longest winning streak. UCLA has lost 10 of its last 13 road games. I’m going with the Cougars.

#13 Kansas @ #19 South Florida
South Florida is a 3.5 point favorite in this one, but they struggled against UCF, needing overtime to pull out a 31-24 victory. Both teams are trying to establish themselves as perennial Top 25 material. Kansas won their first 11 games last year. South Florida finished 9-4 last year, but managed to beat then #17 Auburn, and pulled off a stunning upset of then #5 West Virginia. I’d like to pull for the Bulls, but I think Kansas may be the better team.

#9 Auburn @ Mississippi State
Mississippi State pulled 8 wins out of a hat last year, including surprising road wins over Auburn and Kentucky, and a home win over Alabama. They started this year with a loss at Louisiana tech, followed by a home win against Southeastern Louisiana. Auburn seems to have their QB situation settled, and, frankly, they just appear to be a better team. This game could be close, but I think the Tigers pull it off.

#16 Oregon @ Purdue
Oregon may have the worst QB luck of any team in the country. Dennis Dixon’s knee injury probably cost them a shot at the national championship last year. Then they lost projected starter Nate Costa at the beginning of fall drills this year. But, somehow, they lead the nation in total offense. Purdue, on the other hand, is riding a 14 game losing streak against ranked opponents. They’ve been known to throw the ball around a bit themselves, but I don’t think they can swim with the Ducks for very long.

Michigan @ Notre Dame
Did you ever think this game would roll around one pleasant fall and nobody would care? Michigan can’t seem to win a season opener now, and Notre Dame can’t seem to win at all. The oddsmakers have Michigan as a 2 point favorite on the road. I hate Michigan. But I hate Notre Dame worse.

Georgia Tech @ Virginia Tech
Georgia Tech is re-tooling under new head coach Paul Johnson. Virginia Tech is rebuilding after losing eight players to the NFL draft. Georgia Tech is one of 29 teams that have yet to throw an interception this year. Of course, they rank 111th in passing offense, having attempted only 28 passes in two games. If they can’t run on Virginia Tech, this game is over. Virginia Tech is one of only two teams to win 10 or more games in each of the last four seasons. But, in the battle of Tech’s, I think the Yellowjackets pull off the slight upset.

Last Words for Randy Shannon

So... I'm ALMOST done with this whole Miami whining thing. I just have one thing left to say to Randy Shannon:



It's clear he doesn't understand subtleties. By offering up this image of mean old Urban Meyer kicking late field goals, Shannon claims, "...it helped us. It helped us more than you'll ever know." Presumably, he means it helped with recruiting.



But here's the point he is missing. By whining about somebody - anybody - running up the score on the once-mighty U, he is, in essence, admitting that the program has fallen to the level of opening day patsy upon whom the football powerhouses of the world should take pity. Note to Randy: We KNOW your program has fallen, and fallen a long, long way. But thanks for reminding us, and reminding all your potential recruits. We appreciate it.

If you're still hungry for more on the subject, there is a great article by Greg Doyell of CBS Sports.com HERE

Okay, I'm done now. On to bigger and better things. Much bigger. And much better.

A Little Cheese With That W(h)ine?

Here's a surprise... Hurricane fans are complaining that Florida "ran up the score" by kicking a field goal with 28 seconds left. Like this moron on the ESPN conversation boards - "Florida has no class whatsoever. Kicking a field goal with 8 seconds left?" Actually, it was 28 seconds, but, whatever. "The mere fact that they drove the ball that possession alone is incredibly unsportsmanlike. Yes, they opened it up in the fourth quarter, and by that point deserved to win, but not like that." Or, consider the words of Miami head coach Randy Shannon, "I'll just say this one statement. Sometimes when you do things and people see what kind of person you really are you turn a lot of people off. Now whatever you want to get out of that I won't say it again. But it helped us. It helped us more than you'll ever know."

I wondered about the decision at the time, but let's think about it. What should the Gators have done? Take a knee, and just hand the ball back to Miami? Would that make them feel better? Toss one into the corner of the end zone? Hand the ball off? What if the running play had gotten a first down? Or a touchdown? Would that still be classless?

Let's look at reality. This wasn't Our Lady of Great Agony Prep School. This was Miami. First, if the 'Canes have sunk to such a point that they need to complain about somebody - anybody - running up the score on them, well, the irony is palpable. Secondly, let's look at this Box Score from Miami's game against Texas A&M last year in which the 'Canes kicked a field goal with 2:07 left in the game, despite having a 21 point lead. Was that running up the score? Isn't it interesting how you apply a double standard when someone is doing that to you as opposed to the other way around? Thirdly, consider Urban Meyer's explanation after the game. That was the first time Gator kicker Jonathan Phillips had attempted a field goal in a game. With 8 touchdowns in the previous game against Hawaii, Florida attempted no field goals. Now Phillips has one career field goal attempt in a game setting. Granted, it was a meaningless field goal, in terms of the outcome of the game, but it got him out there in front of the crowd, under the lights, with at least a little pressure to succeed. The Gators may need a clutch field goal against Tennessee in two weeks. Meyer can feel at least slightly better now that his kicker is 1 for 1 instead of 0 for 0. So the whiney Hurricane fans should shut their stinking traps. You lost. And you lost to a better team. Deal with it.

But, just for good measure, I dug up this nice old video highlight (below) that reflects how Gators feel about 'Canes. It's Jarvis Williams hitting Melvin Bratton back in the day. It almost brings tears to my eyes.